Buckle-shield



oooooooo P. D. BEHRENS.

BBBBBB SHIELD.

No. 442,413. Patented Dec. 9, 1890.

UNiTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRIEDRICH DIEDRICII BEIIRENS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

BUCKLE-SHIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,413, dated.December 9, 1890.

Application filed September 1, 1890. Serial No. 363,666. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH Drnnnrcn BEHRENS, of Cincinnati, in thecounty of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Buckle- Shields; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in buckle-shields; and itconsists in the combination and arrangement of parts, which will befully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a buckle-shield which isadapted not only to buckles of different shapes and sizes, but to strapsof different thicknesses.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a shield applied to a metallic frame. Fig. 2is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1 ofa shield applied to a flexible frame. Fig. 4 is a vertical section ofthe same. Fig. 5 shows a modification.

A represents the buckle-shield, which is made of sheet metal of anysuitable kind, and which is provided with the four loops or turned-overparts D, in which either the rigid or flexible frame I is held orfastened. The upper end of this shield is turned inward, as shown at C,so as to catch over the top of the buckle and prevent it from projectingthrough or showing above the shield. This shield, by means of the fourloops or turnedover portions D, as shown in Figs. 1, '2, 3, and 4, isapplied to either a rigid or a flexible frame, and upon which frame theshield is movable, or which frame can be moved endwise independently ofthe shield, as may be desired. By making the shield adjustable upon theframe the size of the loop at the top of the shield can be adjusted atwill, and thus the shield adapted to be used in connection with either athick. or a thin strap. The movement of the shield upon the frameenables a large or a small loop to be formed at the upper end of theframe, and thus adapts a shield of one size to be used with buckles ofdifferent sizes. The strap is passed through the upper loop, and then,after the end of the strap has been passed through the buckle, it ispassed through the lower loop, as shown. It is immaterial how large thelower loop is, for the main thing to be covered is the buckle-tongue Byusing a flexible frame, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the shield is adaptedto be used in connection with straps and buckles of different widths.Leather or any other flexible material may be used for the frame, andthen the -lower end of the frame can be slit open to any desired degree,according to the widths of the strap. \Vhere the straps are made ofleather that stretches and becomes thinner and narrower while in use,the flexible frame adjusts itself to the strap and holds the shield inposition just as well. If a rigid frame were used in connection with theshield, the shield will in a short time become too large for the strap.As long as the frame is flexible one size of shield can be made toanswer for all of the eight standard sizes of buckles which are nowmade.

In Fig. 5 is shown a flexible frame, which has its ends passed throughslots in the shield, and the slit ends of the frame form loops, throughwhich the straps are passed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. In abuckle-shield, thecombination, with a frame adapted to be used in connection with abuckle, having an opening beyond the front end of the buckle, throughwhich the strap passes, of a shield movably secured thereto over theopening and the buckle, whereby the adjustment of the shield enlarges orcontracts the opening and at the same time covers the buckle,substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a flexible frame, whereby it expands andcontracts, for the purpose described, having an opening through whichthe strap passes, of a shield movably secured thereto over the opening,whereby the adjustment of the shield enlarges or com tracts the saidopening, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRIEDRICH DIEDRICH BEIIREXS.

Witnesses:

M. N. LANDO, O. F. DEHN.

